City soaking brings 30mm of rain

WILD WEATHER: The storm clouds roll in over Jindalee Beach, Quinns Perth. Picture Paul Jarvis Source: PerthNow

WHAT A SIGHT: Perth city shrouded with rain and low cloud. Picture: Jordan Shields Source: PerthNow

PERTH got a soaking yesterday with more than 30mm of rain dumped on some parts of the city.

By 5pm yesterday, Perth had recorded 26mm, Bickley in the hills south-east of Perth received a drenching of 33.6mm, while Rottnest got 27.6mm, Swanbourne 27.2mm, and Jandakot 30mm.

The Bureau says showers and thunderstorms would continue around the Perth area, but the heaviest rain had passed.

A thick band of thunderstorms throughout the day made driving conditions treacherous, but a Road Weather Alert that was issued had been cancelled.

A heavy cluster of thundery showers, clearly visible on the Bureau of Meteorology radar, hit the city around midday and dumped heavy showers for several hours.

The downpour prevented any play in the crucial Sheffield Shield match between WA and Queensland, which was due to start today at the WACA.

The SouthWest, Midwest, Central Wheatbelt and the Great Southern also received showers.

Adventure World closed

The inclement weather also brought an early closure at Adventure World in Bibra Lake.

The company announced on its website: "OK, OK enough's enough weather! We are officially going to close the park for the rest of today due to the proximity of lightning.

"If you are a season pass member of know anyone who was thinking of coming this afternoon, please pass the word on. Tomorrow's weather is looking hot and sticky so we look forward to seeing you all for a refreshing day out from 10am!"

Forecast for Friday
Min 18
Max 30
Chance of an early storm.

Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms contracting to the hills during the morning and clearing during the afternoon. Winds easterly 20 to 30 km/h.

Saturday 16 March
    Min 19
    Max 33
    Partly cloudy.

Partly cloudy. Winds easterly 20 to 30 km/h becoming light during the day then becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon.

Sunday 17 March
    Min 20
    Max 31
    Partly cloudy.

Partly cloudy. Light winds.

Monday 18 March
    Min 19
    Max 31
    Partly cloudy.

Partly cloudy. Winds east to southeasterly and light tending southeast to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day.

Tuesday 19 March
    Min 19
    Max 30
    Partly cloudy.

Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day.

Wednesday 20 March
    Min 18
    Max 28
    Partly cloudy.

Partly cloudy. Winds south to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h tending south to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h later in the day.

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Storm brings just drops after 40C sizzler

STUNNING: Lightning bolts lit up the southern sky at 11pm. Taken from Yangebup looking south to Kwinana. The orange building is the Cockburn Cement factory. Picture: Kelly Hutton Source: PerthNow

STUNNING: Lightning hits the ocean near Secret Harbour, south of Perth. Picture: Tim Grime Source: PerthNow

STUNNING: Lightning hits the ocean near Secret Harbour, south of Perth. Picture: Tim Grime Source: PerthNow

PERTH sweltered through a blistering 40C yesterday, with another 38C scorcher tipped for today but morning thunderstorms have brought some early relief.

Isolated thunderstorms have swept across the metropolitan area early today, mainly in the southern suburbs, but falls have been light.

By 8.30am Dwellingup, 97km south of Perth, recorded 4.6mm, Mandurah 1.6mm, Rottnest 2.8mm and Pearce, 45km inland, has had 1mm.

The city and Perth Airport have registered just 0.2mm.

Thunderstorms south of the city late last night brought more thunder and spectacular lightning displays around Kwinana down towards Mandurah, but little rain.

Perth sweated through an uncomfortably warm night with the mercury dipping to just 25.2C at 6.34am. For most of the night it was in the mid to high 20Cs

How we sweated through the night

Midnight: 27.8C

2am:   26.9C

4am: 28.2C

6am: 26.8C

8am: 26.7   

Sweltering 40C day

Swanbourne was the city's hotspot yesterday with 40.9C, which came relatively late in the day, at 3.22pm.

In the city the mercury peaked at 40.1C at 3.34pm.

Many suburbs recorded temperatures of 40C or above and there was little or no seabreeze to provide much relief to anywhere but coastal suburbs.

Perth Airport recorded a top of 40.3C just after 4.15pm and Jandakot reached 39.8C.

Only parts of the Midwest and Pilbara had comparable temperatures yesterday with Geraldton Airport recording a staggering 42.9C at 11.17am!

Further north Paraburdoo was the hottest place in WA, reaching 43.5C, Newman Airport reached 41.9C, Mardie 40.7C and Marble Bar had 40.8C.

At 8.30pm last night it was still 32.2C as a blanket of thundery cloud trapped the heat. 
 
Today Perth can expect another hot day with a top of 38C after an early storm. 

The Week ahead

Thursday 
Min 24C
Max 38C
Chance of an early storm.
Chance of any rain: 40%
Rainfall amount: 0 to 1 mm
Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms contracting to the east during the morning and clearing during the afternoon. Winds northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h shifting west to northwesterly in the late morning then becoming west to southwesterly and light in the evening.

Friday
Min 19C
Max 26C
Shower or two.
Perth area
Cloudy. Isolated showers during the day. Winds southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h, increasing to 30 to 35 km/h in the early afternoon, then easing to 20 to 25 km/h.

Saturday
Min 15C
Max 24C
Cloud clearing.
Perth area
Cloud clearing. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming south to southeasterly and light during the morning then tending southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the day.

Sunday
Min 14C
Max 27C
Mostly sunny.
Perth area
Mostly sunny. Winds south to southeasterly and light tending southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the day then tending southerly 15 to 25 km/h during the evening.

Monday
Min 15C
Max 32C
Sunny.
Perth area
Sunny. Winds southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h turning southerly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.

Tuesday
Min 17C
Max 33C
Sunny.
Perth area
Sunny. Winds southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h.

Wednesday
Min 16C
Max 33C
Chance of a storm developing.
Perth area
Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms possible. Winds southeasterly 25 to 30 km/h turning easterly 30 to 35 km/h during the morning.

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